Side by side

Vaer D5 Meridian AutovsVario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

D5 Meridian Auto
VaerD5 Meridian Auto
MSRP $679
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound
VarioEmpire Art Nouveau Handwound
MSRP $888

At a glance

8 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
D5 Meridian Auto39mm
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound38mm
Power Reserve
D5 Meridian Auto40h
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound40h
Water Resistance
D5 Meridian Auto200m
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound50m
MSRP
D5 Meridian Auto$679
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound$888

Full specifications

Case

5 specs
Category
Diver
Dress
Diameter
39mm
38mm
Thickness
12.5mm
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
46mm
38mm
Water Resistance
200m
50m

Movement

2 specs
Caliber
Miyota 9015
Miyota 6T33
Type
Automatic
Manual

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$679
$888

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

Vaer D5 Meridian Auto

Owners widely praise the Vaer D5 Meridian Auto for its classic aesthetic, comfortable 39mm size, and well-executed 120-click bezel with minimal back play. Reviewers highlight the anodized aluminum bezel insert, lyre lugs, sword hands, and gold accents on the blue sunburst dial as contributing to its old-school charm, making it a great companion for desk diving with comfortable strap options and quick-release spring bars. One owner specifically noted satisfaction with the 42mm variant's premium steel bracelet featuring a tool-less micro-adjust clasp. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Vaer D5 Meridian Auto highly for its classic design and comfortable wearability at its price point.

Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

Owners widely praise the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound for its detailed, multi-layered dial featuring applied numerals and guilloche patterns, its elegant Art Deco-inspired design, and the enjoyable winding feel of the Miyota 6T33 handwound movement, often visible through an exhibition case back. The 38mm case size is considered a positive by many, and the included leather strap is noted for its comfort and quality. Some owners find the differing fonts on the sub-dials and perimeter less appealing, and the absence of a constant seconds sub-dial is flagged as a drawback. On balance, owners rate the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound highly for its distinctive Art Deco styling and detailed dial at its price point.

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